A couple of months ago, we heard the news of Covid-19 as a phenomenon of a distant land, but now it has become our own story. Criticisms and sarcasms were hurled at one another because we all were new to it and didn’t know its gravity then. Not that we are at the end of the world, but no time is better than now to pause and examine the true condition of our faith. The Welsh Protestant minister and medical doctor Martyn Lloyd-Jones says, “Faith is the refusal to panic.” Can we truly have a “peaceful” faith? Perhaps, there may be a lesson worth considering from the life of Abraham.
Abraham had an unusual night. At what time of the day God told him to sacrifice his son Isaac is not clear, but at least he spent a night with that heartrending news at home, for the Bible says, “So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey . . .” (Gen. 22:3). Again, whether Abraham disclosed God’s command to his wife Sarah or not, we cannot know. Either Sarah took cooly the sacrifice of her only son with great faith like Abraham or she was totally ignorant about it. It’s true that ignorance is bliss! For once, permit me to imagine that Sarah was not told about it, which only made Abraham’s struggle all the more difficult because he had to carry the news through the night all by himself. Also, it was too risky to share the news with Isaac. Abraham for sure would not say, “Son, we’ve got to go for a trip because I need to sacrifice you!”
So it all came down to Abraham how he managed to spend that one night. Perhaps, he questioned the wisdom of God! Perhaps, he tried to ascertain whether he got the news accurately! What if it was just an imagination! But it all became too clear in his mind that God did spell out Isaac’s name. Perhaps, Abraham heard how soundly Isaac slept and secretly wept through the night. The longest, sleepless, and torturous night for Abraham finally ended as a new day broke, only to realise that more such days and nights still remained because it was a long journey to Mount Moriah. Knowing that it would be the last home-made breakfast for Isaac, Abraham perhaps asked Sarah to prepare Isaac’s “favorite” one more time, which parents do when kids are leaving for their schools and colleges. The difference, of course, is that Isaac was not coming back home.
Perhaps, Sarah, in her blissful ignorance, attended to household chores as any other day. When the time came for the final departure, perhaps Abraham cued Sarah to give a loving hug to Isaac, and silently watching the pain of the last motherly embrace. As they went on, perhaps Abraham tried to keep things normal by asking Isaac to share his favorite jokes in order to hide his pain underneath. Perhaps, he told Isaac to do well in life, although knowing fully that Isaac was already a dead man walking. Perhaps, he picked up any and every topic just to keep the conversation going. Suddenly, Abraham heard the most piercing question, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Gen. 22:7). All these hours Abraham was successfully evading that question. But now, he heard it and he had to say something back to his son. Perhaps, Abraham turned aside to hide his tears, composed himself, took a deep breath and replied, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering.” While in the heart of hearts he knew, “It’s going to be you, son!”
The rest is history. God provided for the sacrifice and spared Isaac. Every time I read this story I am amazed by the faith of Abraham. C. H. Spurgeon notes, “Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle.” Abraham cannot claim to have faith in God and refuses to obey Him. For his incredible faith and unquestionable obedience, Abraham has become a “super” model for our faith in God. Indeed, he deserved that recognition but we need to remember that it did not come cheap from a single test. For Abraham, faith in God and resultant obedience was his LIFESTYLE. Abraham knew God enough to trust Him even when he was told to do the craziest of things. He had a peaceful faith, which ensued from his consistent intimacy with God. There are many testimonial episodes in Abraham’s life for he lived a life of habitual conversation with God.
The Bible describes those of us who believe in Jesus Christ as children of Abraham in the faith (Rom. 4:16; Gal. 3:7). Then, do we have any resemblance to our father Abraham? Can we remain composed like Abraham in the face of deadly coronavirus pandemic? Can we have faith in God even in the absence of any seeable outward encouragement? Whatever may be the circumstances, let us emulate Abraham’s faith and make ours a lifestyle too – not circumstantial faith! This pandemic may subside from our shore or it may engulf us. We do not know the future, except the One who holds the future! May we all have an enduring “peaceful” faith in the Almighty!
V. Atsi Dolie
ABCC Mission Compound,
Kohima.
